The Ontario government announced that for the next six weeks inspectors from its Ministry of Labor will be conducting surprise visits of factories, warehouses and other industrial businesses to check for safety violations.
The safety blitz is designed to improve safety in workplaces across the province., according to Kevin Flynn, Ontario’s labor minister.
“Blitzes such as this one ensure that we continue to do what we can to prevent injuries and deaths so men and women get home safely to their families each and every night,” Flynn said in a prepared statement.
The inspectors will be enforcing Canada’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. In particular, they will be looking to make sure forklifts and other lifting devices are properly rated for their loads, that workers are provided safe access to work areas, and that workers are performing tasks safety in order to prevent falls.
They will also be ensuring that materials handling equipment is being properly maintained and is being used correctly, and that equipment, products and supplies are being stored safely. Other things inspectors will be reviewing are business’s training and supervision programs, and whether a well-functioning internal responsibility system is in place.
The inspections will begin Sept. 15 and will continue through Oct. 26.